The South Dakota State Jackrabbits women's basketball team is part of the athletic program at South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota. The NCAA Division I team is a member of The Summit League. The Jackrabbits' head coach is Aaron Johnston.

History South Dakota State began play in 1966. In the times they were in the AIAW, they won the State title 11 times from 1969 to 1982, including six straight from 1969 to 1975, including a Regional title in 1972. In their time in Division II, they made the NCAA Division II women's basketball tournament in 1988, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2002, 2003, and 2004. They garnered a record of 18–8. In 2003, they won an NCAA Division II national title when they defeated Northern Kentucky by a score of 65–50. They began play in Division I in 2004. Prior to joining the Division I Summit League, they were a member of the Division II North Central Conference. As of the end of the 2024–25 season, they have a 1154–463 all-time record, which is the 9th-most Division I wins of all time.

The Jackrabbits played in the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship in each of their first five years of eligibility, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013. They also played in the NCAA D-I Basketball Championship in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019, making it to the Sweet Sixteen in 2019. The Jackrabbits played in the 2007, 2008, 2014, and 2017 Women's WNIT Tournaments. In their Division I history, the team has compiled four regular-season Summit League titles and seven Summit League postseason conference-tourney titles. The 2008–2009 team was ranked #14 in ESPN/USA Today Division I Coaches Poll en route to a 32–3 record, and received substantial national media coverage. The 2018–2019 team was ranked as the #1 Mid-Major team, and during the regular season was ranked in the top 25 overall for Division I.

Postseason appearances NCAA Division I Tournament results The Jackrabbits have appeared in fourteen NCAA Division I Tournaments. They achieved their highest ranking in 2019 with a #6 seed. Their overall record is 6–14.

2009 #7 First round Second round #10 TCU #2 Baylor W 90–55 L 58–60 2010 #14 First round #3 Oklahoma L 57–68 2011 #15 First round #2 Xavier L 56–72 2012 #13 First round #4 Purdue L 68–83 2013 #13 First round #4 South Carolina L 53–74 2015 #14 First round #3 Oregon State L 62–74 2016 #12 First round Second round #5 Miami #4 Stanford W 74–71 L 65–66 2018 #8 First round #9 Villanova L 74–81 (OT) 2019 #6 First round Second round Sweet Sixteen #11 Quinnipiac #3 Syracuse #2 Oregon W 76–65 W 75–64 L 53–63 2021 #9 First round #8 Syracuse L 55–72 2023 #9 First round Second round #8 USC #1 Virginia Tech W 62–57 (OT) L 60–72 2024 #12 First round #5 Utah L 54–68 2025 #10 First round Second round #7 Oklahoma State #2 Connecticut W 74–68 L 57-91 2026 #11 First round #6 Washington L 54–72

WNIT appearances The Jackrabbits have appeared in five WNIT Tournaments. Their record is 13–4. They were the 2022 Champions.

2007 First round Second round Third round Quarterfinals Bye Illinois State Indiana Wyoming Bye W 61–48 W 60–53 L 59–70 2008 First round Creighton L 69–76 2014 First round Second round Third round Quarterfinals Semifinals Butler Creighton Minnesota Indiana UTEP W 78–61 W 62–51 W 70–62 W 76–64 L 63–66 2017 First round Second round Northern Illinois Colorado W 94–84 L 75–81 (OT) 2022 First round Second round Third round Quarterfinals Semifinals Championship Ohio Minnesota Drake Alabama UCLA Seton Hall W 87–57 W 78–57 W 84–66 W 78–73 W 62–59 W 82–50

AIAW Tournament appearances The Jackrabbits made one appearance in the AIAW women's basketball tournament. They had a combined record of 0–2.

1972 Championship first roundConsolation first round ImmaculataSouthern Connecticut State L, 47–60L, 34–72

NCAA Division II tournament results The Jackrabbits made nine appearances in the NCAA Division II women's basketball tournament. They had a combined record of 18–8.

1988 First roundRegional finals North DakotaNorth Dakota State W, 76–60L, 77–91 1992 First round North Dakota State L, 58–92 1994 First roundRegional semifinalsRegional finals Nebraska-KearneyNorth DakotaNorth Dakota State W, 81–68W, 61–51L, 52–82 1995 First roundRegional semifinalsRegional finals DenverNorth DakotaNorth Dakota State W, 95–59W, 78–75L, 68–82 1996 Regional semifinals North Dakota L, 55–68 1999 First round Augustana (SD) L, 62–66 2002 First roundRegional semifinalsRegional finalsElite EightFinal Four RegisColorado MesaSouthwest Minnesota StateNorthern KentuckySoutheastern Oklahoma W, 91–76W, 76–63W, 62–50W, 68–67L, 67–77 2003 First roundRegional semifinalsRegional finalsElite EightFinal FourNational Championship RegisNorth DakotaSouth DakotaCal State BakersfieldBentleyNorthern Kentucky W, 107–71W, 77–56W, 87–63W, 83–62W, 69–62W, 65–50 2004 First roundRegional FinalsRegional semifinalsElite Eight Nebraska–KearneyConcordia-St. PaulNorth DakotaCalifornia (PA) W, 67–56W, 74–39W, 72–70 (OT)L, 79–96

Season–by–season results

NCAA Tournament seeding history The following lists include years in which the Jackrabbits have been seeded in the NCAA tournament.

Years →'09'10'11'12'13'15'16'18'19'21'23'24'25'26Seeds →71415131314128699121011

Arenas The Barn 1966–1972 Frost Arena 1973–2024 First Bank and Trust Arena 2024–present

Head coaches # Name Term Record (W–L)1 Norma Boetel 1966–70 35–12 Ruth Marske 1970–72 32–43 Norma Boetel 1972–73 11–74 Jenny Johnson 1973–74 13–45 Norma Boetel 1974–76 33–116 Cindy Davis 1976–78 28–207 Mary Ingram 1978–84 72–848 Nancy 1984–2000 301–1409 Aaron Johnston 2000–present† 628–195 † Aaron Johnston took over for Nancy during the last six games of the 1999–2000 season.

Records though 2024-25 season.

Media coverage

All home and road games are covered on the Jackrabbit Sports Network. The broadcast range of the Jackrabbit Sports Network covers eight states (South Dakota, Minnesota, North Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, and Wyoming), and consists of the following stations:

WNAX 570AM (Flagship Station) KJJQ 910AM KRKI 99.1FM KGFX 1060AM KSDR 1480AM

In 2023/2024, the Summit League finalized a three-year official television contract with CBS Sports Network for linear broadcasting, and partnered with Midco to launch the branded Summit League Network for direct-to-consumer viewing.

References

External links